Abstract:
The current Ethiopian food security programs have started to operate in 2005 in order to bring stabled
food security by ending the cycle of dependency on food aid. Due to gender based inequality, female
headed households tend to arise in situations of poverty and continue to remain chronic food insecurity.
However, there is information gap on the impact of the current food security programs on female headed
households' food security. The general objective of the study was therefore; to examine the impact of
PSNP and HAE programs in improving FHHs food security in the case of lay Gayint Woreda.
Questionnaire survey, key informants interview, focus group discussions and observation were employed
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to collect the primary data. A total of 110 safety net beneficiary households were covered by the
questionnaire survey. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as tables, percentages and
frequencies. Similarly, an inferential statistics such as Chi-square and paired sample t-test were used to
see the correlation of variables. Moreover, binary logistic regression model was used to identify the
determinant factors for the dependent variable. The study revealed that PSNP transfer has contributed
more in smoothing the beneficiaries' food and other consumption. The beneficiary households' number of
meals per day improved after targeted by PSNP and the paired t-test assured that there is statistically
significance difference between before and after targeted the program intervention (at p<0.01). The
study revealed that among the livestock units, oxen ownership of the household had reduced after
targeted by PSN It was found out that 18.2% and 3. 6% respondents, respectively had one and two oxen
before the program intervention while, the study found out that only 7.3% respondents had one ox after
targeted by PSNP (P = <O. OJ). It was found out that there was only 20% of households were benefited
from the HABP. Due to the criteria and restricted business alternative, only 19.1 % beneficiaries could
participate in credit service. It is also found out that credit access has relation with HAE program
membership and it is statistically significant (at P<0.01). Based on the per capita food requirement of
2100 kcal, the result revealed that qrily 16.4% FHH beneficiaries of PSNP were food secured. The binary
logistic regression results found out that farm land size, education status, PSNP transfer and fertilizer
using were determinant factors of households' vulnerability to food insecurity. Therefore, in order to
bring sustainable solution for the FHHs food insecurity problem, the integration of PSNP transfer with
other income earning activities (HABP) were found to be crucial. These call upon policy makers and
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government officials to put considerable efforts in revising the HABP targeting criteria as well as to restricted business plan alternatives.